Mercedes-Benz 190E

David Morley finds a lot of value in Mercedes-Benz's foray into the compact car class.

Mercedes-Benz 190E

16 March 2011David Morley

Engineering a Benz bargain

Given the breadth of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range right now - with everything from the tiny A-Class to the SUV M-Class fighting for showroom space - it's a bit hard to imagine the stir the original 190E created when it landed here in 1985.

But back then, the Benz line-up was rather more compact than it is today, with just the family-sized E-Class (or what became the E-Class) and the S-Class range of limousines. OK, you could include the G-Wagen in that mix, but it was such a small-volume player it didn't really come into most people's reckoning.

So, the introduction of the smallest Benz to date was really something special.

In reality, the 190E was only mirroring what BMW had done with the original 3-Series, but it was formal recognition that BMW had been on the right track with its compact luxury car concept.

Over the years, the 190E morphed into the 180 and then into the C-Class, which remains a big seller for Mercedes.

But the real interest lies in the tremendous value of 190s and 180s built in the early 1990s. Thanks to the cut-throat nature of the used-car business, less than $10,000 gets you into a low-kilometre example of the little Benz, and at that price it's a heck of a car.

What you're buying is a four-door sedan with a four-cylinder engine and automatic gearbox. Engine capacity was 2.0 litres, but with a modest 85 kW on tap, it was certainly no powerhouse. The fact that Benz fiddled about with engine capacities over the next few years (with 1.8-litre versions replacing the 2.0-litre) makes it important that you know exactly what you're buying, to avoid paying too much.

Even so (and regardless of the engine size) you're getting a fairly high degree of engineering, because Benz has never skimped in that department.

While it might not be a full-sized Mercedes, you do still get the core engineering and design values that have made the brand what it is.

Significantly, too, the early 190 looked very much like a scaled-down 300E and a lot of people need to see the 190 parked next to a 300 to see the difference. Conservative it may be, but it's still a classy looker that couldn't be mistaken for anything but a Benz.

Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder engines are legendary for going the distance, and the under-stressed nature of these ones ensures they're no different.

However, you need to remember that they are getting on a bit and we've come across the odd blown head gasket.

Check for oil leaks, too, mainly around the sump gasket and the rocker cover at the top of the motor.

Timing chains on early motors also can fail, so listen carefully for the death rattle of a worn chain and tensioner.

The air-conditioning should blow out gales of cold air and if it doesn't, budget on a potentially expensive fix.

Automatic gearboxes tend to be pretty strong, but give the car a miss if the transmission shudders during shifts, or slips.

Curiously, back then, Mercedes was setting up its gearboxes to start in second gear unless the throttle pedal was floored, in which case it would finally, grudgingly select first gear. It's worth remembering that this is entirely normal, because it can make the car feel a bit strange at first, and is doubtless a factor in the model earning its reputation for being a bit tardy away from the lights.

A full mechanical inspection is a pretty good idea because while the cars are pretty robust, spare parts prices can be higher than for other vehicles.

So, things like disc-brake rotor thickness, interior trim and body panels should be carefully assessed. You can afford to be less critical of items such as tyres, shock absorbers and even the exhaust systems, because these can be replaced by non-genuine parts.

Watch for parallel (or "grey") imports. Often sourced from Asian markets, grey-importing was once big business.

That's not to say you shouldn't ever buy a Benz grey import, but you need to make sure it complies with Australian design rules so that it can be legally registered and insured. You also need to be aware that it's worth less than an Australian-delivered car.

A lot of people have caned the 190E for being underpowered. And while it's true that the solid little body shell combined with a moderate power output is not a recipe for scintillating performance, we'd draw the line at calling it under-done.

True, overtaking at highway speeds requires more forward planning than in some cars, and we wouldn't recommend a 190E for towing duties, but drive it within its design parameters and you'll be fine.

It's also worth noting that the 190E had very impressive crash performance back when it was new, and while it can't match the safety of modern, airbag equipped cars, it'll do a better job than most of its contemporaries of protecting you in a shunt.

What to pay

Trawl through the classifieds and you'll find 190Es from about 1991 for as little as $7000 from private sellers. Dealers will be asking a bit more, but even then, it's not an outrageous amount to pay for this sort of engineering and safety.

The competition

BMW's groundbreaking 3-Series was the major showroom threat when both cars were new and not much has changed there. The BMW is a sportier car to drive (especially with a six-cylinder engine) but the Benz has aged a little more gracefully and is likely to be in better overall condition these days.